Tyne triumph is well worth waiting for
May 11 2009 by Coreena Ford, The Journal
STUDENT rowers from Newcastle University have been crowned kings and queens of the water following an historic boat race.
In an afternoon of high drama on the River Tyne, Newcastle University triumphed for the very first time by winning the 13th University Boat Race by three races to one.
After a rainy start, the clouds parted and the sun shone down on the crowds gathered by the Millennium Bridge, the finishing line for the series of 1,800m races, starting by Dunston Staithes.
In some of the most closely fought races in the history of the event, Newcastle were victorious in the Freshmen’s, Senior Women’s and Senior Men’s races, giving them the overall trophy for the first time ever.
Strong winds and a fast current delayed the start but the crowds were not disappointed once the action got under way.
Durham went into the showpiece of the day – the men’s first eights – as firm favourites. But disaster struck the Durham boat near the finish when a crew member’s blade got caught by the current – known as ‘catching a crab’ in the sport – allowing Newcastle to soar past.
An ecstatic President of Newcastle University Boat Club, Mason Durant, said: “We have waited a long time for this, and it is pretty special.”
